Reducing climate change. July 2018

Transcription

1 Reducing climate change July 2018

2 Climate change challenges us with adversity and opportunities. It s clear that in New Zealand we need to act to reduce our impact on the climate and adapt to the increasing impact it is having on our lives. At IAG we re ready to play our part. At IAG, our purpose is to make your world a safer place. That means being there for people when misfortune strikes and helping our communities to adapt to global issues, like climate change. Because we believe a safer world makes a better world for everyone. To help us better understand public attitudes towards climate change, we asked research company Ipsos to gather 1000 New Zealanders views on climate change in June We wanted to know what New Zealanders thought about climate change and how our country should respond. They told us that climate change is a serious and urgent challenge, and that they want the Government to set clear goals and lead a pragmatic and bipartisan response. We are sharing the key results of that research in this document, as well as some of our thoughts on where IAG can best help address climate change. We know this is the start of long path toward a safer world. So, if you d like to talk more about climate change, or what you think IAG should be doing, please get in touch with us.

3 An important issue While climate change is important to most people and a source of increasing concern, it is not a front of mind issue. We think that climate change is a critical issue for New Zealand and can already see the impact that it is having. That s why we re committed to helping lead the response. 72 Only agree climate change is an 10 important issue place climate change in their top three issues have become more concerned about climate change over the past few years say that climate change is an important issue for the average person

4 A good understanding of the impacts New Zealanders know that climate change will bring a wide range of impacts to the natural environment. At IAG we know that climate change is going to increase New Zealand s exposure to adverse weather and a range of other natural hazards. We also know that reducing their impacts needs adaptation, as well as mitigation. That s why we want to help communities understand what a changing climate means for them. 89 think we will see more frequent and severe storms think we will see inundation of coastal locations due to sea level rise think we will see more frequent and severe floods think we will see more frequent and severe droughts think we will see the loss of ecosystems

5 A lack of confidence New Zealanders think that people have caused climate change and can address it. But they are not confident about how successful the efforts to address it will be. We believe that reducing the effects of climate change is vital and achievable. IAG has reduced its emissions by over 33% in the last five years and has been carbon neutral since We are committed to reducing our emissions in line with keeping global temperature rise to within 2 o of warming. 84 think we can reduce climate change 10 think we will successfully reduce climate change think that climate change is occurring think it is unclear whether we will reduce climate change

6 The Government needs to lead New Zealanders think that we need a collective response to climate change under the leadership of our Government and the international community. We think that climate change means all of us need to act, but it also needs leadership. IAG will play its part and is ready to work with industry, central and local government, and our communities on some of the most challenging issues, like how we use our land and how we fund adaptation. 65 think the Government is responsible for taking action And 25 think it should take charge think the international community is responsible for taking action, and 24% think it should take charge think local government is responsible for taking action, but only 1% think it should take charge think the business community is responsible for taking action, and 15% think it should take charge think individuals and families are responsible for taking action, and 14% think they should take charge

7 We must lift our game New Zealanders are saying that the country s response and the Government s actions to date have not been good enough. We believe that more needs to be done. That s why we are committing to reducing our company s emissions and helping communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is also why we support the Zero Carbon Bill, as it will give the country a clear pathway to a safe, low carbon future. approve of Government actions so far think that our response to climate change is on the right track think that the actions taken by the international community in response to climate change are good think that the actions taken by Local Government in response to climate change are good think that the actions taken by Business in response to climate change are good

8 We must get on with it New Zealanders are saying that we must act early and meet our commitments, even if other countries don t. We also believe it is important New Zealand acts now to reduce climate change. We re a country that has led world moments before. IAG believes with climate change, it s time we did so again. START NOW 79 say we need to start now 78 say we need to act even if other countries don t agree that we need to meet or exceed our international commitments agree we need to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions, not just CO2

9 We must look after people New Zealanders recognise that responding to climate change will lead to changes in where people live and work, and require compassion and support for those affected. We know that climate change will have a substantial impact on New Zealand. That includes the way we use our land and where people live. IAG wants to help lead the conversation about how we make these changes in a way that protects the wealth and wellbeing of affected people and their communities. 75 believe that some people will need to move from where they live 73 agree that we will need to rethink land use agree that we will need to support those affected agree that businesses will be hurt and jobs will disappear agree that we will need to adopt new technology in transport and electricity generation agree that large investments will be needed to upgrade public assets

10 An agreed approach is vital New Zealanders want certainty on where we are going and a pragmatic, bipartisan approach to getting there. We want to see a clear and sustainable plan for how New Zealand reduces it emissions and adapts to the impacts of climate change. Our transition to a zero-carbon economy must be smooth, clearly signalled and well-funded. We want our politicians to work together on this. 79 believe that our approach should be bipartisan agree that we need certainty about where we are going before we act agree that we need to be pragmatic and flexible with how we achieve our goals agree that we need to regularly review things to make sure we re on the right path agree that an independent body must hold the Government to account

11 This Ipsos survey was of 1000 people and ran between June 15 and It has a margin of error of 3.1%. If you would like to know more about this survey or what IAG is doing in response to climate change, then we d love to talk. Contact us at sustainability@iag.co.nz IAG New Zealand Physical 1 Fanshawe Street, CBD, Auckland 1010 Postal Private Bag 92130, Victoria Street West, Auckland IAG /18